What Is A Paddle Board?

The simple answer to the question, “What is a paddle board?,” is it is a board that a person can sit or stand on to paddle thru the water.

Julie and Maizie Paddle Boarding on Big Bear Lake, CA

The more complicated answer is that a paddle board can be either solid or inflatable. They come in a variety of lengths, widths and thicknesses, depending on how you want to use it. For example, do you want to use your board for traditional stand up paddle boarding? Or, would you prefer to sit down paddle board in a relaxed fashion all the way around a beautiful mountain lake?

Perhaps you would like to use a paddle board for stealthfully getting to secret, remote places for fishing? Paddle boards are excellent for both cast and fly fishing! Perhaps you don’t want to go alone and want a tandem paddle board so you and your spouse can spend a fun day a the local reservoir paddling with the family? Are you a yoga enthusiast who would enjoy doing yoga on your paddle board?

Do you have a big vehicle or a rack so that you can transport (and store) a solid paddle board, or do you prefer to have an inflatable board that requires inflation, but is easy to transport and store uninflated?

One unique feature of a paddle board is its large, stable surface that makes it a versatile platform for various activities beyond paddling. These can range from yoga and fishing to touring and exploring open water or river sites. Whether you're looking for a peaceful way to enjoy water or seeking an intense full-body workout, a paddle board might be exactly what you're looking for.

Let’s expand on the most straight forward answer to “What is a Paddle Board?”

A paddle board, traditionally known as a stand-up paddle board (SUP), is a water sport equipment that resembles a large, wide surfboard. The sport originated in Hawaii and has gained popularity around the world.

The simplest answer to, “What is a paddle board,” is a board designed for a person to propel themselves thru the water. But since the sport of stand up paddle boarding originated in Hawaii and has gained popularity as a recognized sport with racing and surfing categories, people forget that paddle boarding is much more than simply standing up. Still, almost all paddle boards provide the ability for the user to stand up.

Stand-up paddle boarding combines elements of surfing and paddling into a sport that can be as relaxing or as challenging as you want it to be. A paddle board offers a fun, full-body workout and is also a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

Paddle boards come in various sizes and designs, each suited for a different kind of water or skill level. Some paddle boards are designed for calm, flat water such as lakes or harbors; others are designed for more challenging open-water conditions like ocean waves. Paddle boards come in a variety of constructions, with the two main ones being solid boards and inflatable boards.

Other types of paddle boards include touring boards, fishing SUPs, yoga boards, and racing boards; each of these is specially designed to accommodate different activities that the user prefers.

Now lets answer the question, “What is a paddle board?” more comprehensively.

What is a paddle board? Is it solid or inflatable?

Solid and inflatable paddle boards serve the same purpose, but they do have distinct differences which make them more suitable for different users or situations.

Solid paddle boards, also known as hard boards or epoxy boards, are traditionally constructed from a foam core covered with layers of fiberglass and resin. These boards are known for their performance as they glide smoothly and quickly through the water, offer excellent stability, and are more maneuverable due to their rigid structure. They are the best choice for surfing, long-distance paddling, and racing. However, they are usually larger and heavier, which can make storage and transportation more challenging.

In contrast, inflatable paddle boards are made from strong, reinforced PVC layers with drop-stitch construction that can inflate to a very high pressure. One major advantage of inflatable boards is their portability. When deflated, these boards roll up to the size of a sleeping bag, which allows for easy storage and transportation, even in the trunk of a small car or on an airplane. They also have a softer surface, which could be beneficial for beginners or for activities like yoga. While older models were generally slower and less rigid than hard boards, technological advancements have significantly narrowed this gap and high-quality inflatable boards now offer performance quite close to that of solid boards.

Your choice between a solid and inflatable paddle board should primarily depend upon your specific needs, storage space, how you plan to transport it, and the conditions in which you'll be paddle boarding.

Read more about the differences between rigid and inflatable paddle boards.

Elyse learning how to paddle board on a rigid paddle board we rented in Monterey Bay, CA

What is a paddle board that would be good for beginners?

Many people asking the question, what is a paddle board?” want to know not only what a paddle board is but what kind of paddle board would be good for a beginner.

For beginners, especially those less than 200 pounds we recommend an inflatable paddle board that is 10’6” long and between 30-32 inches wide.

The answer to this question deserves a comprehensive answer so we wrote an entire webpage about it.

Read all about the best paddle board for beginners.

What is a paddle board that is good for heavier people or older people that prefer a more stable board?

When people ask, “What is a paddle board?” They are often wondering if a paddle board is stable enough for them to have fun on. People over 200 pounds often wonder what size paddle board would suit them and not cause too much drag in the water.

Older people, like Julie’s mother, have serious concerns about how tippy a paddle board will be and if they will ever feel safe enough to stand (or even paddle sitting).

For anyone having these concerns we would recommend a wider board, one that is between 32-34 inches wide and a longer board, one that is 11-12 feet long.

What is a paddle board that is good for paddling with a dog?

We feel guilty when we go paddle boarding without our dogs. We take them often and they love to be out on the water with us. For a dog, especially a big dog, you want a paddle board that is a bit longer and more stable.

Read all about the best paddle board with dog

What is a paddle board that is good for more than one person?

We often have multiple people paddling on the same board in one day. Sometimes one at a time and sometimes all at one time! When we have multiple people on the same board, we like to have the option to paddle seated for more stability and more comfort. Just because we have seats doesn’t mean we can’t stand up at any time. It just gives us the option to sit down when we are tired or so that we can make the board more stable when there is more than one person on it.

Either way, you want to have a board that is at least 11 feet long if you have two or more people on board. You will also want a board that is more than 32 inches wide since two people make balance harder.

john grandie tandem paddle board with seats

What is a paddle board that is good for touring and paddling while sitting?

We love sit down paddle boarding because we spend hours on our boards exploring new lakes and touring on the ocean. Hands down we can go out for longer and have more fun if we bring our seats. So we do! I can’t tell you the number of times we have gotten truly envious looks from other paddlers when we are paddling back to the area that everyone launches while fighting a head wind that has come up in the late afternoon.

While the standup paddlers have had to go to their knees because they are being blown backwards or are hunched over to lower their wind resistance, we paddle swiftly and in complete comfort in our seats.

We often tour alpine lakes up in the mountains. Often the wind at these lakes will come from one direction and can be very brisk. We typically plan our paddle so that we paddle into the wind, hugging the shoreline while comfortably seated until we get to the far end. Then we like to stand up and paddle back down the middle using our body as a sail with the wind at our back. You need to get out there and experience just how fun it is!

What is a paddle board that would be good for fishing?

Fishing paddle boards need to be a bit wider to accommodate the motion of casting while standing and provide side to side stability for realing in uncooperative fish.

Additionally, fishing requires more gear so most people like a paddle board that is 11-12 feet long and between 33-35 inches wide. These are good dimensions if you plan to paddle to your favorite fishing spot and then fish from your board both while standing and sitting.

Learn all about the best paddle boards for fishing.

What is a paddle board that is good for yoga?

You want a wide, stable board for paddle board yoga. Especially when you are starting out, you are going to want to have a board that it at least 33 inches wide.

We also like a longer board so we spend less time in the water when we mess up and so there is more padding under our hands and feet while we are doing poses. Boards that are less than 11 feet are slightly less stable front to back and the padded area does not extend as far forward.

Read more about exercising on a paddle board.

Maizie casually paddle boarding while doing the splits.

A complete answer to your question, “What is a paddle board?”

So, as you see, there is a lot more to consider than you probably expected when you asked the question, “What is a paddle board?” To sum it all up, a paddle board, whether solid or inflatable, offers a unique way to enjoy water activities, combining elements of surfing and paddling in a sport that's as relaxing or challenging as you wish it to be.

They provide an excellent means to explore your surroundings, get a full-body workout, or simply to relax on the water. From beginners to professionals, there is a suitable paddle board for everyone, with each board offering specific advantages.

The most important thing is to choose the one that aligns with your needs, storage capabilities, and the conditions you plan to paddle board in. So, get out there and give paddle boarding a try – the water's waiting!

We hope to see you out on the water!